Key holder



April 22, 1952 J. l. HAGER ET AL 2,593,441

KEY. HOLDER Filed D80. 2, 1947 IN VEN TOR. JOHN HAGER BY EUGENE W SAMFOIPD 7//W@Wm Patented Apr. 22, 1952 KEY HOLDER John I. Hager and Eugene W. Samford, Montebello, Calif.

Application December 2, 1947, Serial No. 789,204

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in key holders of the type involving a case for enclosing several keys and means on the case for ejecting the keys for use, and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a key holder of this type which is more practical and serviceable in form and has more efficient key-ejecting means, a portion of which acts also to retain the unejected keys in place in the case.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a key holder of the above-indicated character wherein the key-ejecting means is operated against the tension of spring means in ejecting the keys for selection and use, and is operated by the release of the tension of said spring means in a manner to permit the ejected keys not selected for use to fall back into the case and be retained in position therein.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of a key holder of the above-indicated character in which a relatively unobtrusive button or finger-piece lying close to a side or edge of the case is slidable longitudinally of the case to effect the ejection of the keys when moved in one direction against the spring tension, and to efiect positive retention of the keys in the case when released to be moved in the opposite direction by said spring tension, whereby mechanical superiority and reliability in action, as well as greater compactness are achieved.

Other important objects and advantageous features of this invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein, for present purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of said embodiment, showing in dotted lines a key retained in the case;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the mechanism in key-retaining position;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the mechanism in key-ejecting position, with a key partly ejected from the case;

Figures 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken on the lines 4-4 and 5--5, respectively, of Figure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 6 generally designates the key-holder case consisting of a molded plastic or other suitable material, elongated, narrow, generally rectangular body formed to provide two laterally-spaced plate-like sides I, l, and abbreviated bottom wall 8 extending therebetween and terminating short of the adjacent end of the body at the point 9, and a block-like web H coextensive with and joining the opposite ends of the said sides. A removable type of pivot screw I2 traverses the sides 1, I in the region of the bottom opening defined by the termination 9 of the bottom wall 8 at the end of the case opposite the web ll to permit keys I3 pivoted on the pivot screw l2 to swing in a wide are not only through the upper opening between the said sides, but also through the bottom wall opening.

The juncture of the top of the bottom wall 8 with the web H is convexly curved so as to provide a conforming seat M for the normally reclining, comma-shaped key ejector arm I5, whose body portion I6 is traversed by a transverse pivot ll whose ends are anchored in the sides 1, 1 at a point above and slightly forward of the seat l4, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The elongated tapered tongue portion is of the ejector extends forwardly and normally lies along the bottom wall 8, as shown in Figure 2, with the unejected keys I3 resting gravitationally upon the tongue portion.

The inner surfaces of the sides l, l are provided with parallel grooves l9, !9 extending rearwardly from a point midway of the length of the case 6 to the rear end of a rectangular recess 20 formed in the top of the web to accommodate movement longitudinally of the case of a button or finger-piece 2! which has ribs 22, 22 on its opposite lower sides slidably confined in said grooves. It is obvious that provision may be made for putting the button 2i and other mechanism in place by having one or both of the sides 1 separate from the web H and assembling them by suitable means, such as cementing, after the mechanism has been placed.

The button or finger-piece El has a generally rectangular cross-section and a longitudinallycurved and knurled upper edge 23 facilitating its manipulation, and projecting above the case 6 only far enough for convenient contact with a thumb or other finger.

The forward end of the lower edge of the button 2| has a depending lug 24 proportioned and arranged to engage the rounded front of the upper end of the body portion E6 of the ejector l5, as shown in Figure 3, when the button is pulled rearwardly, whereby the ejector tongue i8 is swung upwardly in a manner to lift and flip the keys l3 upwardly out of the case 8 to an elevated position in which they are held by the tongue for selection of one or more of the keys by the operator, as long as the button is held by the operator in the retracted position.

The rear end of the lower edge of the button 2| has a depending cam 25 having a forwardlyinclined face 26 for operative engagement with the rear upper curved part of the ejector body "5, whereby the ejector I is thrown downwardly from the elevated ejecting position shown in Figure 3 to the normal position shown in Figure 2, as the button 2| is moved forwardly from the retracted position shown in Figure 3.

The forward movement of the button 2| producing the return of the ejector l5 to normal reclining position is effected by the expansion of a compressible helical spring 21 which has its forward end circumposed on a pin 28 projecting rearwardly from the cam portion 25 of the button 2|, and its rearward end inserted in a depression 29 in the rear wall of the recess 20; said expansion resulting from compression of the spring by rearward pulling of the button 2| inciden-tal toejecting thekeys I 3 and taking place upon release of the button from retracted position.

The-component parts areso proportioned and arranged that while the button is being held 'in retractedposition and'a selection of one or more of the keys I3 is made by swinging them over toward the left in the drawings, the remaining or unselected-keys rest upon the tongue it of the ejector l5, as shown in Figure 3. When in these positions of the parts and the keys, the button H is released so as to be moved forwardly by the spring 2?, the unselected keys fall gravitationally with the subsiding of the ejector sufficiently in advance of the arrival-of the'button '2! at its forward extreme position to permit the keys to fall to their lowest position before the button reaches them. The button M then rides forwardly to a position over the keys [3 and its forward lug 24 then acts asa limit stop, preventing the encased'keys from having excessive movement or rattling relative to the case 6 and preeluding their swinging out of the case while the selected key is being used or the holder is in the wearers pocket.

We claim:

l. A key holder comprising a case open along one side edge thereof, a pivot pin for a key at one end of the case, an ejector lever in said case, a pivot for said ejecter at the other end of the case, a lever actuating member slidable on the open edge of said case at said other end, a longitudinal arm on said lever underlying the key, an upwardly extending arm on said lever extending above the pivot thereof, spaced apart depending lugs on said lever actuating member engageable on oppositesides of said upwardly extending lever arm for rocking said lever, and spring means pressing said lever actuating memher for retracting said lever within said case.

2. A key holder comprising a case open along one longitudinal edge thereof, a pivot pin for a key at one end of the case, a key ejecting lever in said case including a longitudinal arm underlying the free end of the key, an upwardly extending arm on said lever at the other end of the case, a pivot for said lever below the upper end of said latter arm, a lever actuating member slidable on said other end of the case, a depending lug on the ends of said slidable member engaging on opposite sides of the upper end of said latter arm for rocking said lever, and spring means pressing said lever actuating member for retracting said lever into said case.

3. A key holder comprising a case open along one side edge thereof, a pin arranged transversely of said case adjacent one end thereof and fixedly supported within said case for rockingly supporting a key thereon, a key ejecting lever positioned longitudinally of and within said case intermediate said pin and the other end of said case and having one end adapted to engage a key when supported on said pin, said lever being mounted adjacent the other 'end thereof in said case for rocking movement about an axis transverse thereof, and hand actuable means positioned on said case adjacent the other end thereof engageable with the other end of 'said lever and mounted on said case for longitudinal movement toward and away from said pin to thereby effect the rocking movement of said lever.

4. A key holder comprising a case open along one side edge thereof, apin arranged'transverse- 1y of said case adjacent one end thereof and fixedly supported within'said case for ro'ckingly supportinga key thereon, a key ejecting .lever positioned longitudinally of and within said case intermediate said pin and the other end of said case and having one end adapted to engage a key when supported on said pin, said lever being mounted adjacent the other end thereof in said case for rocking movement about an axis transverse thereof, hand actuable means positioned on said case adjacent the other end thereof 'engageable with the other end of said lever and mounted 'on said case for longitudinal movement toward and away from said pinto thereby 'eifectthe'rocking movement of said lever, and springjm'eans operatively connected to said means for urging said lever toward said pin.

JOHN I. HAGER. EUGENE W. SAMFORD.

REFERENCES 'CITED The following references are-of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

